Dubai, UAE: The 3nd Africa Global Business Forum (AGBF), which will be held on November 17-18, 2015, has announced more than 20 African leaders will be participating, including heads of states, prime ministers and chairmen, as well as leading figures from banks and sovereign funds.

The event will see the participation of: H.E. Paul Kagame, President, Republic of Rwanda; H.E. Ameenah Gurib Fakim, President, Mauritius; H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of Federal Republic of Somalia; H.E. Festus Mogae, Former President of Botswana; H.E. Nourdine Bourhane, Vice-President in charge of the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Housing, Union of Comoros; H.E. Cheick Mobido Diarra, Former Transitional President of Mali and H.E. Joaquim Chissano, Former President of Republic of Mozambique.

A number of ministers will be attending the event including: H.E. Abrahao Gourgel, Minister of Economy, Angola; Hon. Hanna Tetteh, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbah, Minister for Trade & Industry, Ghana; H.E. Amadou Ba, Minister of Economy, Finance and Planning and H.E. Khoudia Mbaye, Minister of Investment, Promotion and Partnership, Republic of Senegal; Hon. Jabulile Mashwama, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Kingdom of Swaziland; H.E. Kerfalla Yansane, Minister of Mines and Geology, Republic of Guinea; Hon. Marie Joseph Sinatambou, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration & International Trade, Republic of Mauritius; Hon. Amelia Kyambadde, Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Uganda and H.E. Philip Bailhache, Minister of External Relations, Jersey.

The UAE will be represented by H.E. Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, UAE Minister of Economy; H.E. Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman, DP World; and Adnan Chilwan, CEO, Dubai Islamic Bank. From Egypt: Ahmed Heikal, Chairman & Founder, Qalaa Holdings. From Kuwait: Tarek Sultan, CEO and Vice Chairman, Agility.

Commenting on the backdrop of this year’s AGBF, H.E. Hamad Buamim, President & CEO, Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry said that that next month’s forum would facilitate deep-dive conversations between the African leaders about strategic economic approaches and plans to attract investment. Sessions will allow governments to discuss their role in enabling growth including the reaching of bilateral agreements, wider economic reform, funding and infrastructure, the development of a skilled workforce, as well as policies to attract foreign investments.

He added that Africa’s economy is witnessing undisputed change and according to the Competitiveness Report 2015, issued by World Bank, the service sector has witnessed significant growth, AGBF will discuss the changes and what it means to the content.

The first session will draw on Africa’s potential to accelerate to double-digit growth, and overcome the challenges of poverty. This will be followed by ‘The Infrastructure of Trade’. The third session will address fellow leaders on the necessity for Africa’s continued growth in order to bring widespread prosperity.

During the two-day event, further subjects will be explored including the future for Africa with free trade agreements in place, pan-African free trade zones and intra-regional trade. The role of natural resources in driving the economy and the impact of low oil prices and economic growth will also be covered.

Day one will conclude by assessing new sources of funding including pension funds, Sukuks and Islamic finance.

The second and final day opens with a discussion on the advancement of science. As the African population is expected to double over the next 35 years, the continent will need innovative new approaches to everything from growth to education and health.

With digital technology transforming mass-market business models, African nations are unlikely to be able to take the same path that most higher-income countries have taken, leveraging cheap labour and competitive exports before climbing up the value chain.

The following session will focus on intra-African connections and the role of the African aviation sector where it will showcase Ethiopian Airlines.

The forum also covers education, in particular the emergence of effective educational initiatives and institutions, ranging from new affordable school models to coaching in leadership and entrepreneurship.

AGBF is supported by a number of key sponsors, including: Investment Corporation of Dubai as a title partner; DP World, strategic sponsor; DMCC, platinum sponsor; gold sponsors are Nakheel, Dubai Islamic Bank and MiDCOM

Group. The forum’s official airline carrier is Emirates Airline and the official partner is Standard Bank.

The forum concludes from the perspective of a young entrepreneur who will share their thoughts on the lessons of Africa’s development and discuss what is needed to make the 2020’s Africa’s decade.

The event will be held under the theme ‘New Drivers, New Partners’ and coincides with the 50th anniversary of Dubai Chamber. It is by invitation only and will see more than 1000 guests attending.

Source:  Zawya